Family Medicine Emergency Medicine

The University of Calgary CCFP-EM program adheres to the standards and meets the objectives of the CFPC. The program is based at the Foothills Medical Centre; however, residents receive their training at four hospitals in Calgary, and also at regional hospitals in Banff.

Highlights and Strengths of the CCFP EM Program

1. The Calgary Zone Emergency Department is an integrated group of over 250 full-time emergency physicians, roughly half of whom hold the CCFP(EM) designation. The Calgary Zone ED is the largest regionalized department of emergency medicine in Canada, with over 300,000 visits a year to the region’s four adult hospitals and one pediatric facility. This allows the program to draw from a large pool of preceptors with many areas of sub-specialty expertise such as additions, critical care, sports medicine, palliative care, POCUS, leadership and administration, and others.
2. All Calgary EM residents are scheduled at all four adult EDs, with approximately half of the shifts taking place at the Foothills Medical Centre (FMC), which is the regional trauma and cardiac referral centre. All ED MDs in Calgary are considered "Trauma Team Leaders" and therefore lead all of the Level 1 trauma cases at FMC. As such, Calgary does not have a "trauma rotation", because all ED rotations trauma rotations.
3. Calgary's CCFP-EM program enjoys a collaborative and integrated relationship with the FRCP-EM program. Most academic half days are shared, with resources and teaching programs being combined including Grand Rounds, Journal Clubs, didactic teaching, retreats, and many more activities. This provides many opportunities for professional and extracurricular collaboration, social networking, as well as setting up a positive working relationship as residents transition into attending staff.
4. Calgary's EM programs are uniquely resourced to provide nation-leading education: the University of Calgary Postgraduate Medical Education department provides considerable funding for teaching development, educational leadership, resource acquisition, and professional development. This allows us to surround our learners with dedicated and highly supported professional educators to enhance the residency experience.

Canadian Forces / Department of National Defence candidates are welcome to apply at any point during the year. We have been proud to support our colleagues in the DND and will make unique accommodations and a tailored learning experience for interested parties. Please contact the Program Director if you are a service-member interested in this pathway.

All residents are supported in developing their own Grand Rounds to the entire Calgary Zone Department of Emergency Medicine. They are paired with an attending preceptor (including a specialist, where necessary). This is considered a highlight of the academic program and provides high visibility of the resident to the clinical department.

An academic/research project is also an integral part of the program. This project may be a small clinical trial, contribution to ongoing research, a quality improvement study, a case report with literature review, or a survey. All projects are presented in the Spring at Research Day, which is shared with the Calgary FRCPC program.